Bach Flower Remedies – The Essence Within THE THIRTY ......8 Bach Flower Remedies – The Essence Within 9 Introduction It .is .an .important .part .of .the .function .of .this .book

Bach Flower Remedies – The Essence Within

THE THIRTY-EIGHT BACH REMEDIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDERAgrimony . . . . . . 46Aspen . . . . . . . 122Beech . . . . . . . 142Centaury . . . . . .58Cerato . . . . . . . . 62Cherry .Plum . . . . 114Chestnut .Bud . . . 126Chicory . . . . . . .50Clematis . . . . . . . 38Crab .Apple . . . . 146Elm . . . . . . . . 118Gentian . . . . . . . 74Gorse . . . . . . . .84

Heather . . . . . . .96Holly . . . . . . . . 154Honeysuckle . . . . 174Hornbeam . . . . . 134Impatiens . . . . . . 34Larch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Mimulus . . . . . . . 42Mustard . . . . . . 182Oak . . . . . . . . .88Olive . . . . . . . . 100Pine . . . . . . . . 170Red .Chestnut . . . 166Rock .Rose . . . . . . 78

Rock .Water . . . . .92Scleranthus . . . . .66Star .of .Bethlehem . 158Sweet .Chestnut . . 185Vervain . . . . . . .54Vine . . . . . . . . 104Walnut . . . . . . . 150Water .Violet . . . . . 70White .Chestnut . . 162Wild .Oat . . . . . . 108Wild .Rose . . . . . 178Willow . . . . . . . 138

THE 12 HEALERS

THE 7 HELPERS

Cherry .Plum . . . . 114 .Elm . . . . . . . . 118Aspen . . . . . . . 122Chestnut .Bud . . . 126Larch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Hornbeam . . . . . 134Willow . . . . . . . 138

Beech . . . . . . . 142Crab .Apple . . . . 146Walnut . . . . . . . 150Holly . . . . . . . . 154Star .of .Bethlehem . 158White .Chestnut . . 162

Red .Chestnut . . . 166Pine . . . . . . . . 170Honeysuckle . . . . 174Wild .Rose . . . . . 178Mustard . . . . . . 182Sweet .Chestnut . . 186

THE SECOND 19

Impatiens . . . . . . 34Clematis . . . . . . . 38Mimulus . . . . . . . 42Agrimony . . . . . . 46

Chicory . . . . . . .50Vervain . . . . . . .54Centaury . . . . . .58Cerato . . . . . . . . 62

Scleranthus . . . . .66Water .Violet . . . . . 70Gentian . . . . . . . 74Rock .Rose . . . . . . 78

Gorse . . . . . . . .84 .Oak . . . . . . . . .88Rock .Water . . . . .92

Heather . . . . . . .96Olive . . . . . . . . 100

Vine . . . . . . . . 104Wild .Oat . . . . . . 108

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9

Introduction

It .is .an .important .part .of .the .function .of .this .book .that .it .provides .the .necessary .technical .information .for .those .who .wish .to .make .remedies .for .themselves .But .it .is .felt .that .there .are .other .possibilities .which .can .be .mentioned .here .which .may .be .of .use .People .who .use .a .pendulum .to .dowse .for .an .appropriate .remedy .can .use .the .photographs .in .the .book .for .diagnosis .And .this .could .be .done .by .just .looking .at .the .pictures: .we .will .be .attracted .intuitively .to .the .flowers .that .have .significance .for .us .The .pictures .are .intended .to .represent .the .feeling .of .the .remedy .as .well .as .give .the .reader .a .copybook .illustration, .and .by .selecting .a .remedy .visually .we .may .be .able .to .come .closer .to .the .original .healing .force .of .the .flower

The .photographs .could .equally .be .used .for .treatment, .as .contemplating .the .image .will .offer .another .way .to .observation .However, .they .are .not .likely .to .be .as .beneficial .as .going .out .to .find .the .plant .or .tree .itself .By .including .the .text .from .Bach’s .Twelve Healers & Other Remedies it .is .possible .to .use .the .book .for .more .conventional .diagnosis .The .affirmations, .all .chosen .from .Bach’s .own .writings, .will .offer .a .positive .thought .for .use .in .meditation .This .can .strengthen .us .by .bringing .into .focus .that .which .we .wish .to .become, .that .which .we .are .moving .towards

The .main .text .falls .into .thirty-eight .sections, .one .for .each .of .the .thirty-eight .flower .essences .which .Dr .Bach .discovered .These .thirty-eight .are .grouped .as .The Twelve Healers, The Seven Helpers and .the .Second Nineteen. The .first .twelve .were .characterized .by .Dr .Bach .as .being .the .type .remedies, .the .essential .condition .and .soul .lesson .with .which .we .are .born .The Seven Helpers .were .described .as .remedies .for .chronic .conditions .which .often .overlay .the .essential .personality .type .The .Second Nineteen, .remedies .of .a .different .order, .are .for .emotional .responses .to .traumatic .life .experiences .

The .details .about .each .of .these .remedies .concern .both .the .flowers .and .his .reasons .for .choosing .them .This .is .not .the .same .information .as .is .found .in .books .on .Bach .therapy .which .seek .to .delineate .the .psychological .type .for .each .remedy .and .then .give .the .name .of .the .appropriate .flower .The .thought .here .is .that .we .can .look .at .the .plant .first, .attempting .to .understand .its .gesture .and .how .it .speaks .of .the .remedy .state .to .which .it .corresponds .Through .an .appreciation .of .the .plant .or .tree .we .can .come .to .an .appreciation .of .the .emotional .state .A .person .can .then .be .helped .by .an .essence .made .from .that .flower .This .book .puts .the .flower .before .the .flower .essence .It .invites .the .view .that .the .best .therapy .comes .directly .from .the .natural .world .itself

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11

The .same .narrow .bridge .spans .the .river .and .reminds .us .that .there .is .a .bridge .in .both .space .and .time .to .the .place .where .Dr .Bach .first .saw .Impatiens .growing .there .on .the .riverbank

For .Bach, .the .recognition .of .the .plant .and .the .way .that .it .grows .expressed .in .another .form .the .way .that .he .lived .his .life .The .good .and .the .bad .together; .the .striving .for .forgiveness .alongside .the .tension .and .pain .that .he .recognised .as .a .part .of .himself .The .idea .then .was .to .find .a .way .back .to .the .best .of .himself, .a .way .to .be .free .from .the .negative .influences .of .this .type .of .personality .In .the .flowers .of .Impatiens, .with .their .gentle, .balanced .quality .he .saw .and .heard .a .message: .relax, .be .gentle .with .yourself .and .with .others

This .may .sound .like .a .simple .message: .not .enough .to .be .the .‘true .cause .and .cure .of .disease’ .as .Bach .described .it .But .it .is .the .simplicity .of .the .idea .which .is .most .profound .If .I .know .myself .then .I .may .heal .myself .Self-knowledge .allows .for .change: .understanding .enables .a .person .to .take .responsibility .So .the .real .message .from .Bach .in .his .book .Heal .Thyself .is .… .know .thyself .And .the .subtext .of .his .other .seminal .essay .Free .Thyself, .is .the .title .of .another: .Ye .Suffer .From .Yourselves .All .in .all .he .firmly .puts .us .in .the .driving .seat .as .masters .of .our .own .fate, .in .charge .of .our .own .lives

It .is .true .that .this .book .started .out .as .a .textbook .account .of .how .you .may .make .your .own .Bach .flower .remedies .And .it .remains .a .valuable .way .to .contact .the .essential .healing .forces .of .the .flowers, .just .as .Dr .Bach .did .But .just .as .it .has .gained .a .new .subtitle .– .the .essence .within .– .it .seems .right .to .point .to .a .different .way .in .which .the .reader .may .work .with .the .book .The .remedy .plants .are .listed .in .chronological .order, .the .order .in .which .Dr .Bach .found .them .

The essence withinIt .is .now .more .than .eighty .years .since .Dr .Bach .took .a .fateful .walk .along .the .banks .of .the .River .Usk, .near .Crickhowell, .in .September .1928 .Much .has .changed .since .then .But .what .has .not .changed .are .the .human .emotions .– .simple .and .yet .profound .- .which .he .described .and .the .remedies .he .found .in .the .wild .flowers .of .Britain .It .has .been .claimed .that .people .are .now .different .and .that .we .need .more .sophisticated .flower .essences .for .the .new .millennium .But .human .nature .does .not .change .and .we .still .need .to .read .and .understand .the .basic .roadmap .of .life .which .Edward .Bach .drew .in .the .38 .Bach .Flower .Remedies

This .roadmap .begins .now, .as .it .began .for .Bach, .with .the .discovery .of .who .we .really .are .What .is .the .basic .emotional .response .which .I .have .towards .life? .Is .it .fear, .impatience, .uncertainty .or .a .desire .to .withdraw .and .be .alone? .Dr .Bach .began .his .search .for .the .flower .remedies .by .seeking .a .remedy .for .himself .He .was, .by .all .accounts, .a .determined, .self-assured .man .who .knew .what .he .wanted .to .do .in .life .and .preferred .to .do .it .alone .That .was .not .because .he .was .antisocial .rather .because .other .people .slowed .him .down .with .their .demands .for .attention .and .inability .to .grasp .the .direction .of .his .ideas .So .it .was .that .around .the .time .of .his .forty-second .birthday .Edward .Bach .left .London .and .took .the .train .west .He .arrived .at .the .border .town .of .Abergavenny .and .walked .the .6 .miles .to .Crickhowell .Little .has .changed .here

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A need for balanceAll .of .this .has .an .effect .upon .the .consciousness .of .the .earth .and .it .is .this .consciousness .which .gives .rise .to .the .thought .forms .of .plant .and .tree .We .are .a .part .of .it .ourselves .and .respond .to .its .call .Conservation .and .ecology .are .a .response .to .the .earth’s .need .for .balance .So .too .Dr .Bach’s .discovery .of .flower .remedies, .for .if .we .understand .how .the .plants .can .help .us .we .will .better .recognize .how .we .can .live .so .as .to .help .them .We .will .appreciate .the .way .that .all .living .things .interrelate .

As .a .subject .of .study .this .has .a .long .way .to .go .We .may .know .some .of .the .reasons .why .a .plant .grows .in .certain .physical .conditions .but .as .yet .there .is .little .concern .for .why .it .exists .in .its .own .terms .Those .who .seek .to .attune .themselves .to .individual .plants .do .learn .more .of .their .secrets .and .this .in .turn .is .offering .a .new .vision .of .the .planet’s .life .Whether .we .choose .to .describe .this .in .terms .of .plant .devas .and .angelic .beings .is .not .really .very .important, .for .there .is .a .genuine .attempt .to .recognize .the .guiding .forces .of .creation .and .to .see .how .they .work .in .life .As .we .learn .about .them .we .may .hope .to .live .and .work .with .co-operation .rather .than .conflict .The .results .will .become .apparent .in .the .world .around .us, .as .these .forces .will .help .to .change .the .consciousness .of .those .who .are .responsible .for .the .wellbeing .of .the .earth

The journey of the individualIn .the .past .it .has .been .the .practice .for .specialists .to .do .research .and .then .publish .their .findings, .in .the .manner .of .explorers .giving .an .account .of .a .new .land .to .those .who .stayed .at .home .But .this .is .a .journey .of .discovery .we .all .need .to .take, .individually .and .together .We .shall .learn .most .by .making .contact .with .the .land .and .the .plants .ourselves, .not .just .by .taking .somebody .else’s .word .for .the .experience .There .is .no .definite .way .in .which .this .is .to .be .done .and .our .own .experience .will .guide .us, .as .will .the .silent .teacher .of .our .inner .being .

This .is .clearly .the .way .in .which .Bach .approached .the .subject, .as .we .can .tell .from .his .writings .What .we .learn .then .will .be .in .accordance .with .what .we .need .to .know, .so .that .we .can .better .fulfil .our .life’s .purpose .This .is .consistent .with .Bach’s .understanding .of .how .we .can .achieve .health .by .using .flower .remedies .Always .the .inner .directive .from .the .soul .leads .us .towards .necessary .experiences, .which .will .lead .us .to .be .happy .in .life

How did Bach come to his discoveries?When .the .question .arises .– .“How .did .Bach .actually .find .the .flowers?” .– .“How .did .he .know .which .one .would .act .to .help .which .particular .psychological .state?” .– .many .different .answers .can .be .given .Sometimes .it .looks .as .though .some .good .angel .or .other .discarnate .being .was .whispering .in .his .ear .telling .him .what .to .look .for .And .why .not? .This .is .channelling .and .many .people .have .had .experience .of .it .But .perhaps .Bach, .with .his .medical .training, .was .not .a .man .for .the .psychic .approach .Then .again .people .often .say, .“He .was .a .sensitive .man, .you .know, .and .he .had .only .to .put .his .hand .over .a .flower .and .he .knew .exactly .what .its .healing .quality .was ” .If .we .have .the .sensitivity .such .things .do .undoubtedly .take .place: .we .feel .the .strong .vibrational .quality .of .the .plant .and .can .recognize .it .and .give .it .words .and .form, .as .it .were .But .Dr .Bach, .whose .training .was .as .a .scientist, .worked .with .scientific .observation .one .suspects

In .the .late .summer .of .1928 we .know .that .he .found .the .first .three .remedies .when .he .was .walking .along .the .banks .of .the .river .Usk .in .South .Wales .While .much .has .changed .in .the .years .since .then .these .plants .do .still .grow .there .So .what .can .we .say .about .what .may .have .happened? .

We shall learn most

by making contact

with the land and

the plants ourselves,

not just by taking

somebody else’s word

for the experience.

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AttunementThe .process .of .coming .to .meet .the .plants .has .been .called .attunement: .we .learn .to .listen .to .the .tuning .vibration .of .the .plant .Inevitably .this .has .a .rather .personal .quality .to .it .The .description .of .what .we .experience .individually .can .sometimes .appear .vague .or .even .fanciful .to .those .who .are .out .of .sympathy .But .it .can .be .used .to .inform .and .vitalize .a .more .objective .approach .that .is .based .upon .outward .observation .We .need .to .feel .the .living .forces .of .nature .as .well .as .see .them .as .external .phenomena .That .way .we .can .realize .how .they .are .part .of .us .and .we .of .them .Ideally .there .is .a .balance .between .the .inner .and .outer .experience, .so .that .we .can .come .to .a .better .understanding .of .what .these .plants .are .and .how .they .each .express .their .particular .nature

There .is .much .to .learn .in .just .finding .the .remedy .plants .and .observing .them .At .first .it .may .be .difficult .to .identify .an .individual .flower .and .many .hours .can .be .spent .in .fruitless .searching .But, .as .we .see .one .and .then .another, .we .recognize .the .gesture .of .the .remedy .and .begin .to .see .with .an .inner .eye .the .quality .of .it .We .begin .to .know .the .feeling .of .how .and .where .it .grows .and .sense .the .reason .for .its .being .there; .equally .we .can .recognize .why .it .will .not .be .found .elsewhere .In .a .similar .way .it .is .helpful .to .see .

how .the .flowers .compare .with .each .other .– .the .flower .of .Cherry .Plum .may .appear .a .little .like .Crab .Apple, .for .instance, .though .its .growth .and .manner .of .flowering .mark .it .off .as .quite .different .The .colour .of .these .flowers .points .to .something .of .their .quality .as .remedies .

Colour & lightWe .also .can .see .them .as .a .part .of .a .far .greater .pattern .in .the .landscape .of .colour .as .it .changes .through .the .seasons .This .does .not .follow .exactly .the .spectral .sequence, .but .the .year .starts .with .white, .leads .on .through .yellow .(and .red) .to .blue .and .purple

The .individual .colours .play .a .large .part .in .the .subtle .nature .of .the .remedy .flowers .Blue .flowers .like .Cerato, .for .instance, .express .a .more .receptive .feeling .The .yellow .or .red .flowers .of .Mimulus .or .Gorse .are .more .dynamic .

This .polarity .of .colour .can .be .seen .as .the .blue .darkness .of .space .into .which .the .yellow .sunlight .shines .Where .they .meet .on .the .surface .of .the .earth, .green .leaves .of .the .plant .kingdom .result .So, .too, .the .green .of .spring .is .a .meeting .of .the .darkness .of .winter .with .the .summer .light .This .can .be .seen .as .significant .in .the .green .flower .remedies .like .Scleranthus .and .Wild .Oat .which .are .concerned .with .balance, .the .balance .which .mediates .between .light .and .dark, .above .and .below .Each .individual .flower .is .coloured .

that .way .for .a .reason .So .the .plant .remedies .for .fear .have .a .dynamic .colour, .which .projects .a .bright .strength .The .exception .is .the .grey .Aspen, .although .parts .of .the .flower .can .be .seen .to .be .deep .red .when .examined .closely

Plant formThe .way .the .flowers .present .themselves .at .different .levels .between .the .earth .and .sky .is .also .significant .Some .plants .hug .the .ground .(like .Scleranthus), .some .try .to .gain .height .on .frail .stems .(Wild .Oat), .others .are .held .aloft .by .mighty .trunks .and .branches .(Sweet .Chestnut) .In .a .similar .way .there .is .a .difference .between .the .dangling .catkin .(Aspen), .the .flower .that .faces .out .horizontally .(Honeysuckle) .and .the .erect .flowerhead .which .holds .the .petals .out .to .face .the .sun .(Star .of .Bethlehem .or .Centaury) .The .size, .shape .and .colour .of .the .flower, .the .locality, .the .soil, .the .community .of .other .plants, .the .time .of .flowering, .all .these .things .have .a .meaning .and .can .be .read .as .more .than .the .facts .of .physical .information .Observing .these .things .will .help .us .better .to .understand .the .flowers .that .we .are .working .with .and .help .us .to .be .more .consciously .attuned .to .nature .altogether .Then, .when .we .come .to .make .a .remedy .(or .even .pick .a .lettuce .come .to .that), .we .will .be .more .sensitive, .aware .and .awake .to .what .is .happening

Pattern & locationThe .pattern .of .forces .that .the .plant .embodies .is .an .expression .of .the .land .and .all .that .happens .there, .physically .and .metaphysically .We .tend .to .think .that .plants .grow .in .a .certain .place .by .chance .– .they .are .fortunate .if .the .seed .lands .in .a .spot .where .the .soil, .moisture .and .other .physical .conditions .are .just .right .But .this .is .not .the .complete .story .Where .plants .are .able .to .grow .wild, .where .they .grow .naturally, .a .different .complex .of .forces .is .at .work .There .is .something .in .the .place .which .expresses .the .inner .nature .of .the .species

Physical propertiesWe .can .see .this .idea .more .easily .perhaps .if .we .compare .the .physical .properties .of .a .certain .herb .with .the .wider .vibrational .qualities .

If .we .look .at .the .physical .properties .of .a .plant .like .Agrimony .we .can .discover, .by .looking .in .a .herbal .text .book, .that .it .has .a .long .history .as .a .vulnerary .and .liver .herb .in .traditional .medicine .A .chemist .might .take .the .plant, .burn .it .to .ash .and .then .make .a .chemical .analysis .of .the .ash .Apparently .this .would .explain .the .medicinal .action .But .these .things .are .quite .different .from .the .use .of .this .herb .by .Bach .and .the .vibrational .properties .it .has

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HeatherAs .well .as .these .observations .we .can .discover .something .directly .from .the .experience .of .making .a .flower .essence .Necessarily .the .observation .here .is .personal; .what .follows .is .a .brief .account .of .the .time .spent .on .a .hilltop .when .making .the .Heather .remedy .one .summer .day .Heather .grows .on .wild .moorland, .on .high .ground .mostly .Living .close .to .the .Welsh .hills .one .very .bright, .clear .morning .I .set .out .to .climb .on .to .the .top .This .was .no .great .mountain .but .high .enough .to .be .able .to .see .all .the .land .for .many .miles .around .The .Heather .remedy .is .for .a .particular .kind .of .loneliness .It .is .for .those .people .who .feel .a .great .need .for .the .company .of .others, .a .need .to .talk .and .share .their .troubles, .no .matter .with .whom .This .can .be .seen .as .an .expression .of .great .soul .loneliness, .of .not .knowing .just .where .we .belong .in .life, .a .feeling .that .we .need .to .be .known .and .recognized .by .a .friend .We .might .ask: .if .Bach .found .this .remedy .and .it .is .for .this .type .of .person, .why .should .it .work .for .them? .Why .should .Heather .be .a .helper .to .this .emotional .state? .What .has .it .got .for .us .that .it .can .help .to .change .the .negative .emotional .difficulty?

When .we .make .a .flower .remedy, .especially .if .it .is .a .long .way .from .home, .there .is .not .much .else .to .do .but .sit .and .just .be .there .You .sit .and .look .at .the .sky, .you .look .at .the .flowers, .you .sit .and .think .and .then .you .just .sit .This .morning .it .was .so .beautiful .The .sky .was .intensely .blue, .the .Heather .vibrant .pink-purple .The .day, .so .warm .and .fine .Nobody .else .

was .there, .no .other .people .at .least .There .were .a .few .wild .ponies .and .the .odd .sheep, .a .couple .of .ravens .‘cawing’ .at .each .other .Slowly, .as .I .quietened .myself, .the .quietness .became .immense; .the .silence .stretched .

away .over .the .great .empty .valleys .below; .the .space .filled .with .the .warm, .vibrant, .living .air

The .quiet .joy .of .being .there .was .so .strong .Although .it .is .hard .to .put .into .words, .I .felt .that .this .is .the .remedy .for .unification .I .felt .a .presence .which .is .behind .all .individual .things… .like .the .spirit .that .is .behind .each .species .There .is .the .spirit .that .is .behind .the .Heather .or .every .other .individual .plant, .animal .or .insect .Each .plant .knows .how .to .be .itself .because .it .is .connected .to .this .spirit .The .bees .that .were .thronging .the .Heather .flowers .knew .how .to .be .themselves .

because .of .the .spirit .of .‘Bee-ness’ .that .they .are .a .part .of .They .fly .up .from .the .valley .below, .drawn .by .the .scent .of .Heather, .gather .the .pollen .and .nectar .from .the .millions .of .flowers .and .unfailingly .navigate .their .way .home .They .know .their .purpose .within .this .spirit .and .live .it .But .there .are .many, .many .other .lives .just .as .complex .and .purposeful .Spiders .making .webs, .the .minute .insects .that .crawl, .buzz .and .hover; .gnats .which .hang .like .a .mist .suspended .over .a .particular .rock .as .if .pointing .a .meaning .to .it .Then .there .are .birds .that .curve .and .call .in .the .air, .the .skylark .thrilling .high .and .clear .They .come .like .the .spirit .of .freedom .which .lives .there .wild .and .remote

Many .of .us, .I .suppose, .know .this .experience, .the .joy .we .can .have .in .such .a .place .But .at .the .same .time .I .saw .that .while .the .plants, .the .insects .and .the .birds .were .each .connected .to .their .own .spirit .and .knew .their .nature .– .I .saw .that .human .beings .so .often .were .not .It .seemed .that .some .people .failed .to .contact .this .spirit .in .themselves .and .that .was .why .they .felt .lost .and .confused .That .was .the .message .of .Heather .The .negative .state .of .the .Heather .remedy .was .this .feeling .of .isolation, .of .loneliness, .of .being .unable .to .endure .the .wild .and .open .space .of .the .soul, .alone

Then .I .saw .that .there .really .is .a .‘universal .mind .substance’ .which .each .of .us .can .reach .into .and .be .a .part .of .That .is .the .spirit .which .lies .behind .or .rather .within .human .beings .To .reach .to .this .spirit .one .had .only .to .move .towards .it, .rather .than .turning .away .It .carried .all .within .it .It .knew .all, .saw .all, .and .was .all .To .be .a .part .of .that .unity .was .to .be .no .longer .alone .It .was .the .comfort .and .blessedness .of .communion, .being .one .with .all .life, .separate .but .part .of .a .united .creation .It .is .a .little .like .coming .home, .like .meeting .your .family, .like .knowing .that .you .are .not .alone .because .you .are .loved .Sitting .up .there .with .the .Heather .that .morning .I .felt .that .I .was .no .longer .a .stranger .in .the .land, .no .longer .apart .and .isolated .but .one .with .it .all .I .didn’t .want .to .leave .I .sat .there .for .three .hours .while .the .remedy .was .making .and .they .were .like .minutes, .warm, .rich .and .beautiful

Well, .there .it .is .That .is .part .of .the .message .from .the .Heather .flowers

30


31

When we begin to work with flower remedies these sorts of forces begin to flow within us. They become the way by which we begin to see life a little differently. They are the agents of change. We may turn back and see better who and what we are. There is a kind of mystery in the way that the plants inter-react with human beings. This is the mystery of life, the wonder of creation and the miracle of all existence.

THE 38 BACH FLOWER

REMEDIES

The 12 Healers 33-81The 7 Helpers 83-111

The Second 19 113-197

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33

Impatiens Impatiens glandulifera

Clematis Clematis vitalba

Mimulus Mimulus guttatus

Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria

Chicory Chicorium intybus

Vervain Verbena officianalis

Centaury Centaurium erythaea

Cerato Ceratostigma wilimottianum

Scleranthus Scleranthus annuus

WaterViolet Hottonia palustris

Gentian Gentiana amarella

RockRose Helianthemum nummularium

THE 12 HEALERS

These are the type remedies, describing the kind of person you are. In adults this is not always easy to recognise. But circumstances can help expose our essential nature, or remedy type: how we behave when ill, what we are like under pressure, what qualities we admire or dislike in others. Look for the correlation between your

true nature and the remedy description.

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35

The 12 Healers

Impatiens .was .probably .the .first .flower .remedy .Dr .Bach .identified .Visiting .Wales .in .1928 .he .saw .this .Himalayan .Balsam .growing .on .a .riverbank .along .with .Mimulus .(see .page .42) .Significantly, .neither .plant .is .a .British .native .Impatiens glandulifera .was .found .in .Kashmir .in .the .1830s .and .brought .back .to .England .It .escaped .and .has .been .so .successful .as .a .colonist .that .it .has .now .become .common .throughout .the .country .Apparently .it .is .still .on .the .increase .It .is .for .the .emotional .state .of .irritation, .for .tension .and .pain .The .pattern .of .growth .that .the .plant .displays .can .be .used .to .explain .why .this .is .so .and .to .illustrate .other .aspects .of .the .remedy .state

Bach .first .saw .Impatiens .in .late .September .when .the .pods .were .ripe; .no .doubt .he .observed .how .they .exploded .and .scattered .the .seeds, .like .little .bullets .The .sides .of .the .pod .are .elastic .and .they .curl .back .like .tiny .writhing .snakes .To .experience .this .just .take .hold .of .one .of .the .fat .pointed .pods .and .it .will .give .a .perfect .demonstration .of .the .explosive .irritation .of .Impatiens! .The .seeds .need .the .cold .of .winter .before .germination .but .they .are .quick .off .the .mark .in .spring .and .soon .outgrow .other .plants .That .is .why .Impatiens .grows .so .densely .and .forms .such .a .bank .of .flowers .Bach .observed .that .the .Impatiens .person .likes .to .

work .alone, .at .speed .and .without .interference, .just .like .the .plant

The .plants .are .tall, .branched .and .leafy .with .brittle, .fleshy .stems .growing .up .to .2m .or .more .in .a .few .months .The .flowers .are .amazingly .delicate .for .such .a .powerful .plant .and .they .hang .from .a .fine .stalk, .poised .and .balanced, .with .an .open .mouth .inviting .insects .Constantly .active, .Impatiens .carries .buds, .flowers .and .seeds .simultaneously .throughout .the .late .summer .Most .of .the .flowers .are .a .hot-mauve .colour, .a .mottled .deep .red .But .Bach .specified .that .only .the .pale-mauve .flowers .were .to .be .used .in .preparing .a .remedy .The .reason .for .this .is .that .they .are .cooler .and .more .delicate, .carrying .the .essence .of .the .sweet, .gentle, .relaxed .tenderness .that .is .characteristic .of .the .positive .state .of .Impatiens

IMPATIENSImpatiens glandulifera

INDICATIONThose who are quick in thought and

action and who wish all things to be

done without hesitation or delay. When

ill they are anxious for a hasty recovery.

They find it very difficult to be patient

with people who are slow, as they

consider it wrong and a waste of time,

and they will endeavour to make such

people quicker in all ways.

They often prefer to work and think

alone, so that they can do everything at

their own speed.

⊖ irritated by constraints, quick, tense, impatient

⊕ gentle and forgivingAFFIRMATIONYou are striving for

exquisite gentleness

and forgiveness, and that

beautiful mauve flower,

Impatiens, which grows

along the sides of some of

the Welsh streams, will,

with its blessing, help you

along the road.

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37

The 12 Healers

FlOwerINg perIODJuly .to .September, . .

or .until .a .frost

lOCAlITyImpatiens .is .found .throughout .

Britain .It .grows .along .the .banks .of .streams .and .rivers, .the .seeds .

travelling .in .the .water .It .will .grow .in .full .light .or .shade .and .accepts .

varying .soils, .unless .markedly .acid .It .prefers .damp .ground

prepArATIONImpatiens .is .prepared .by .the .sun .method .(p 200) .Only .the .pale .mauve .flowers .are .used; .pick .them .by .the .slender .stalks .and .float .them .on .to .the .water .Choose .a .place .where .the .flowers .grow .really .strongly .and .select .from .several .different .plants

IDeNTIFICATION

Impatiens glandulifera .(also .known .as .I. roylei) .is .the .only .plant .of .its .kind .although .there .are .two .or .three .other .Balsams .that .are .related .It .grows .tallest .and .strongest .of .the .family; .the .others .have .yellow .or .orange .flowers .It .is .a .fast .growing .annual, .the .leaves .are .large .and .pointed .with .a .toothed .edge, .dark .green .and .like .the .stem .they .

are .lined .in .purple .The .flowerheads .are .carried .on .stems .that .spring .from .the .base .of .the .leaves .The .five .petals .are .fused .to .form .a .hood .or .helmet .(it .is .sometimes .called .‘Policeman’s .Helmet’) .

This .Impatiens .is .definitely .not .the .same .as .the .popular .houseplant .called .‘Busy .Lizzie’ .(Impatiens x walleriana).

IMPATIENSImpatiens glandulifera

38


39

The 12 Healers

The .Latin .name .vitalba means .literally: .white .vine .White: .because .of .the .characteristic .white .flowers .and .silvery .awns .of .the .seeds .and .vine .because .of .its .habit .of .climbing .over .the .hedges .Some .of .the .common .names .are .Old .Man’s .Beard .(its .fluffy .appearance) .and .Travellers’ .Joy .because .it .grows .so .prolifically .in .the .lanes .and .on .the .roadside; .perhaps .too .for .the .dried .stalks .that .provide .Gypsies’ .Bacca .for .the .gentlemen .of .the .road! .This .was .one .of .the .first .three .remedies .which .Bach .identified .in .1928; .it .is .for .the .mentality .that .is .dreamy .and .not .sufficiently .awake .in .the .present .It .is .a .creeper .that .has .no .means .of .supporting .itself .and .so .it .relies .upon .small .trees .and .shrubs .to .carry .it .aloft .(think .of .the .strong .trunk .and .firm .roots .of .the .Oak .for .a .comparison) .The .creamy-white .tufted .flowers .have .no .intensity .and .strength .of .colour .(contrast .Gorse .or .Chicory) .As .the .plant .grows .it .smothers .the .tree .blurring .its .shape, .softening .the .outline, .making .a .cloud .of .the .hedge; .clear .physical .forms .become .vague .and .amorphous .In .a .light .breeze .the .loosely .hanging .Clematis .swings .in .the .wind .Where .it .lies .like .a .fleecy .blanket .on .the .hedge .the .whole .soft .mass .moves .unsteadily .Look .at .it .and .you .become .drawn .into .its .sway .Mesmerized .by .the .gentle .dream .of .light .and .air .you .too .leave .the .earth .

and, .subtly .disorientated, .you .are .drawn .out .into .another .land .The .physical .world .grows .remote, .faint .as .smoke .and .quiet .as .a .fairy .dawn .We .are .in .a .child’s .dream

Mundane .reality .may .be .dull .by .comparison, .but .this .is .the .life .that .we .must .live .We .evade .human .responsibility .if .we .try .to .escape .into .fantasy .Bach .spoke .of .this .as .a .polite .form .of .suicide .The .soul .message .is .that .we .must .‘come .down .to .earth’ .and .work .with .life .on .a .more .practical .plane .If .we .were .supposed .to .pass .this .life .in .the .astral .worlds .then .we .would .have .been .born .there .Yet, .while .Clematis .may .lead .our .thoughts .into .another .reality, .the .flower .also .expresses .the .purpose .of .having .a .strong .hold .on .life .It .grows .very .prolifically .and .is .an .extremely .successful .plant .in .that .it .can .cover .large .areas .As .it .holds .on .firmly .for .support .it .demonstrates .our .learning .‘to .hold .on .when .there .is .nothing .in .you .except .the .will .which .says .to .you .– .hold .on!’. It .grows .with .the .will .to .be .in .life

ClematisClematis vitalba

INDICATIONThose who are dreamy, drowsy, not fully

awake, no great interest in life. Quiet

people, not really happy in their present

circumstances, living more in the future

than in the present; living in hopes of

happier times, when their ideals may

come true. In illness some make little or no

effort to get well, and in certain cases may

even look forward to death, in the hope

of better times; or maybe, meeting again

some beloved one whom they have lost.

⊖ dreamers, drowsy, absent minded

⊕ brings down to earth

AFFIRMATIONThe remedy brings stability:

and places the patient on

a more practical plane;

brings them ‘down to earth’;

and so enables them to fulfil

their work in this world.

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41

The 12 Healers

lOCAlITyClematis .is .found .throughout .

southern .Britain, .preferring . .calcareous .soils .It .becomes .

scarce .in .the .north

FlOwerINg perIOD July .through .to .September

prepArATION Clematis .is .prepared .by .the .sun .method .(p 200) .Pick .the .separate .flowers .by .the .stalk .from .several .different .plants .in .a .place .where .Clematis .is .growing .strongly .Care .should .be .taken .to .choose .flowers .in .perfect .bloom: .this .will .be .apparent .by .the .scent .and .the .pollen .on .the .stamens

ClematisClematis vitalba

IDeNTIFICATION

Clematis .is .a .woody .perennial, .growing .stems .as .long .as .30m .which .hang .from .trees .like .jungle .vines .The .pinnate .leaves .are .pointed .(15-20cm), .in .opposite .pairs, .on .long .twisting .stalks .which .serve .to .entwine .branches .and .provide .support .since .there .are .no .tendrils .

The .unrelated .White .or .Black .Bryony .could .be .mistaken .for .Clematis .since .they .also .straggle .through .the .hedges, .however .both .forms .of .Bryony .

have .single .leaves, .flowers .are .ranged .along .a .stem .and .form .red .berries .

The .creamy-white .flowers .of .Clematis .have .four .sepals, .but .no .petals .Numerous .very .prominent .stamens .give .a .tufted .appearance .In .autumn .the .wispy .seedheads .form .the .characteristic .‘Old .Man’s .Beard’ .There .are .no .other .wild .flower .variants .of .Clematis .in .Britain .

Ornamental .garden .Clematis .should .not .be .used

142


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The Second 19

What .could .be .more .beautiful .than .the .sun .shining .through .the .spring .leaves .in .a .Beechwood? .What .is .lovelier .than .the .autumn .colours .of .the .Beech .trees .on .the .Chiltern .Hills? .These .elegant .woodlands .provided .Bach .with .a .remedy .for .the .state .of .mind .which .is .critical, .intolerant .and .faultfinding .It .is .true .that .the .Beech .is .a .refined .and .almost .perfect .tree .It .has .a .smooth .bark .with .a .hard-grained .and .knot-free .wood .which .can .be .polished .to .a .superb .finish; .the .young .leaves .covered .with .soft .hair .and .minutely .pleated, .the .purest .pale .translucent .green, .are .a .miracle .of .precision .and .fineness .So .too, .the .mind .which .sees .only .the .crooked .hem, .a .speck .of .dirt .and .the .imperfections .of .life: .it .too .is .precise .and .highly .refined .Like .the .Beech .tree .too .much .refinement .brings .a .critical .and .intolerant .outlook .if .it .develops .negatively .In .these .woods .no .other .shrubs .or .trees .are .tolerated; .they .are .excluded .by .a .carpet .of .dead .

leaves .and .the .dense .canopy .of .the .tree .tops .which .allows .little .rain .or .light .to .filter .through .Once .Beeches .have .come .to .dominance .they .reign .supreme

The .critical .mind .finds .fault .with .others .to .protect .itself .Intolerance .is .used .to .give .a .sense .of .security .In .Beech .woods .the .trees .are .actually .weak .and .shallow .rooted, .falling .in .storm .winds .if .they .are .exposed .by .woodland .clearance .The .Beech .state .of .mind .betrays .a .fear .of .life .as .much .as .a .feeling .of .superiority .

So .the .positive .quality .that .this .tree .can .bring .is .a .vision .of .beauty .which .can .see .beauty .in .others, .a .way .of .perceiving .the .virtue .in .all .things, .a .loving .acceptance .of .life .with .all .its .imperfections .and .crumpled .realities .In .this .positive .state .we .can .see .that .

there .are .standards .of .behaviour .other .than .our .own .which .may .be .equally .valid .and .have .an .equal .right .to .exist; .each .being .is .working .to .perfection .in .the .way .of .its .own .nature .

INDICATIONFor those who feel the need to

see more good and beauty in

all that surrounds them. And,

although much appears to be

wrong, to have the ability to see

the good growing within. So as

to be able to be more tolerant,

lenient and understanding of

the different way each individual

and all things are working to

their own final perfection.

BeechFagus sylvatica

⊖ intolerant,critical,fussy⊕ seeinggoodintheworld

AFFIRMATIONThat we never criticise nor

condemn the thoughts, the

opinions, the ideas of others;

ever remembering that all

humanity are God’s children,

each striving in his own way

to find the Glory of his Father.

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The Second 19

BeechFagus sylvatica

prepArATION Beech .is .prepared .by .the .boiling .method .(see .p 202) .Choose .a .place .where .the .branches .are .accessible .at .the .edge .of .a .wood .and .pick .from .several .different .trees .Both .male .and .female .flowers .are .used .The .females .are .mostly .on .the .tips .of .the .branches .Cut .the .twigs .about .15cm .to .fit .the .saucepan

IDeNTIFICATIONBeech .is .a .native .British .tree .growing .to .over .30m .with .a .smooth .grey .bark .In .woodland .they .often .have .no .low .branches .though .solitary .trees .will .grow .to .a .complete .and .balanced .form .with .branches .offering .leaves .for .all .available .light .Leaf .buds .are .long .and .slender .on .opposite .spurs .Flowers .form .soon .after .the .leaves .appear .with .male .and .female .on .the .same .tree .The .females .mature .a .few .days .

before .the .males .to .ensure .cross-pollination .from .a .neighbouring .tree .They .are .seen .as .a .reddish .crown .of .bristly .‘mast’ .which .hardens .to .protect .the .nut .The .male .flowers .hang .beneath .the .branch .on .slender .stalks .like .clustering .earrings .They .swing .in .the .wind .and .so .release .pollen .The .Copper .Beech .and .Weeping .Beech .are .both .ornamental .derivatives .of .F. sylvatica .and .they .are .not .the .true .form

FlOwerINg perIODApril .and .May, .soon .after .the .leaf .appears .The .male .flowers .open .as .fluffy .balls .when .ready

lOCAlITyBeeches .are .found .throughout .

Britain .growing .on .a .variety .of .soils .They .are .especially .

characteristic .of .chalk .landscape .preferring .the .well-drained .

conditions .Ancient .Beech .forests .are .generally .found .in .the .south .

of .England

158


159

The Second 19

Star .of .Bethlehem .is .a .six-petalled .flower .Like .the .Star .of .David, .this .star .has .an .especial .meaning .The .name .also .relates .to .the .fact .that .a .plant .of .this .kind .grows .profusely .in .the .fields .of .Palestine .and .Syria .The .stars .of .those .lands .have .some .obvious .associations .This .small .flower .that .shines .with .an .intense .whiteness, .displays .a .perfect .six-fold .geometry .In .the .natural .world .geometry .has .a .wondrous .meaning .It .was .only .in .quite .recent .times .that .the .Mogen .David .became .the .symbol .of .Judaism .It .was .used .in .antiquity .because .it .demonstrated .the .idea .that .life .was .due .to .the .interpenetration .of .matter .and .Divinity: .one .triangle .representing .the .Divine .world .touching .to .earth, .the .other .the .material .world .reaching .towards .God .When .they .are .in .perfect .relationship .a .perfect .attunement .exists .in .life .If .they .are .out .of .kilter, .however, .it .is .easy .to .see .that .all .things .would .be .displaced .and .out .of .harmony .As .this .is .the .only .one .

of .the .Bach .flowers .that .has .this .six-fold .geometry .(most .of .them .are .five-fold) .it .has .a .particular .significance

. . .Star .of .Bethlehem .is .for .shock .When .we .suffer .a .shock .of .any .kind .it .has .the .tendency .to .drive .us .out .of .our .bodies .– .we .say .‘I .jumped .out .of .my .skin’ .or .‘it .knocked .me .sideways’ .We .have .a .picture .then .of .the .dislocation .of .the .subtle .geometry .of .ourselves: .

we .are .out .of .balance .This .distorts .the .flow .of .the .life .force .within .us .and .has .serious .effects .upon .our .health .at .all .levels .Star .of .Bethlehem .has .the .strength .in .its .bright .radiant .purity .to .realign .the .pattern .It .acts .to .

unify .us .again .so .that .the .natural .healing .processes .can .take .place .In .practical .terms .we .feel .comforted .and .soothed .so .that .our .pain .and .trauma .are .eased; .we .find .that .we .can .breathe .again .and .release .tension .That .is .to .say .a .state .of .normal .activity .can .resume .because .the .harmony .of .our .divine .nature .is .again .in .place

INDICATIONFor those in distress under

conditions which for a time

produce great unhappiness.

The shock of serious news, the

loss of someone dear, the fright

following an accident, and

such like. For those who for a

time refuse to be consoled this

remedy brings comfort.

Star of BethlehemOrnitholagum umbellatum

⊖ loss,grief,fright,suddenalarm⊕balanceandharmony AFFIRMATION

To remain in such a state

of peace that the trials and

disturbances of the world

leave us unruffled, is a great

attainment indeed and brings

to us that Peace which passeth

understanding; and though at

first it may seem to be beyond

our dreams, it is in reality, with

patience and perseverence,

within the reach of us all.

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The Second 19

prepArATION Star .of .Bethlehem .is .prepared .by .the .boiling .method .(see .p 202) .Find .a .place .where .the .plant .is .prolific .and .pick .the .flowerheads .complete .The .flowers .should .be .open .so .a .bright, .clear .morning .is .required

IDeNTIFICATIONStar .of .Bethlehem .is .a .perennial .bulb .of .the .Lily .family .When .in .flower .it .has .a .stem .and .leaves .of .about .10-15cm .The .leaves .are .slender .and .pointed, .growing .from .the .bulb, .dark .green .with .a .white .central .vein .The .flowers .are .held .in .an .umbel .– .a .head .of .between .six .and .ten .separately .stemmed .flowers .– .each .flower .(30mm .across) .having .six .petals .These .are .bright .white .with .a .dark .green .stripe .on .the .back; .this .is .due .to .their .dual .function .as .sepals .forming .a .green .

bud .before .opening .Within .the .six .petals .is .a .central .coronet .of .six .stamens, .very .pronounced, .raised .on .white .stalks .surrounding .a .central .dome .The .flowers .are .displayed .to .gain .maximum .light .and .open .fully .only .in .bright .sunshine .The .plant .is .easily .recognized .though .some .of .its .relatives .might .mislead: .Ramsons, .wild .garlic, .for .instance .has .a .broad .leaf .and .a .flowerhead .of .plain .white .stars, .while .others .have .a .distinctly .different .structure

FlOwerINg perIODApril .to .May

lOCAlITyStar .of .Bethlehem .grows .in .open .grassland .on .drier .

soils .It .is .not .uncommon .but .is .most .likely .to .be .found .in .the .south .and .east .of .England .Old .flower .books .speak .of .it .as .being .an .introduced .species .to .

be .found .in .cottage .gardens, .though .if .it .is .not .a .native .species .it .has .generally .naturalized

Star of BethlehemOrnithogalum umbellatum

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199

Ourselves

All the practical details of making the essence should be well prepared in advance - aim for complete mastery of the physical processes.

When we set out to make an essence we may feel it right to prepare ourselves beforehand so that we are in a receptive and harmonious state.

Then .we .are .able .to .work .with .the .healing .forces .of .nature .which .are .to .be .brought .into .focus .in .the .remedy

Take .a .bath, .wear .clean .clothes .Dr .Bach, .we .are .told, .wore .a .white .gown .Also, .if .you .like .to, .prepare .yourself .mentally .by .a .form .of .meditation; .though .perhaps .it .should .be .said .that .the .endeavour .is .always .to .put .as .little .of .ourselves .into .the .essence .as .is .possible .

Making .a .flower .remedy .calls .for .our .best .endeavour .in .all .respects, .whatever .way .we .choose .to .approach .the .process .The .more .we .strive .to .understand .what .is .involved .the .better .we .shall .be .able .to .see .what .exactly .is .appropriate .When .preparing .a .remedy .in .this .way .there .is .an .opportunity .to .observe .and .consciously .penetrate .to .the .deeper .levels .of .meaning .– .for .ourselves, .for .the .plant, .for .the .patterns .of .life .force .which .exist .– .making .contact .with .the .essence .within

Whenever .possible .plants .should .be .in .the .wild, .in .a .place .where .they .are .not .interfered .with .by .animals .or .people, .and .where .the .earth .forces .are .strong .and .unpolluted .by .motorways, .power .stations .and .the .like .

It .is .apparent .that .many .of .the .remedy .trees .and .plants .no .longer .grow .in .the .same .clear .and .healthy .conditions .which .existed .in .Bach’s .time .There .are .physical .and .metaphysical .forces .which .have .weakened .and .distorted .the .land .and .the .flowers .Where .the .natural .balance .has .been .maintained .there .the .remedy .will .be .strongest .

With .those .trees .and .shrubs .which .are .likely .to .have .been .planted, .such .as .Red .Chestnut, .Walnut .or .Cerato, .we .can .find .a .place .where .the .estate, .farm .or .garden .is .sensitively .cared .for .When .preparing .a .remedy .use .only .those .flowers .that .are .in .perfect .bloom .and .select .from .several .different .plants .or .trees .at .the .same .location .Make .doubly .sure .that .this .is .the .correct .flower

The flowers

It is important to choose a location where these are growing naturally.

For the dayCheck .the .forecast .– .a .clear, .bright, .sunny .day .when .there .are .no .clouds .in .the .sky .and .light .wind .Check .the .site, .access .and .get .permission .if .requiredBe .ready .to .start .picking .flowers .for .the .essence .before .nine .o’clock .in .the .morning

ô

ô

ô

You need...Bowl .or .pan .depending .on .method; .best .if .they .have .not .been .used .for .another .purposeA .bottle .of .the .purest .water .available .– .ideally .fresh .from .a .pure, .local .spring .(not .distilled .water)Secateurs .or .scissors .to .snip .from .plant .Stick .or .ladder .for .high .flowers

ô

ô

ô

Preparation for remedy making

200


201

Sun methodTake .a .thin .glass .bowl .about .400ml .or .half .pint .size .(not .the .ovenproof .type) .and .fill .it .with .pure .water .

Cover .the .surface .of .the .bowl .with .flowers .and .then .top .up .the .water .if .necessary .Leave .it .in .the .sunshine .alongside .the .remedy .plants .for .three .to .four .hours, .or .less .if .the .blooms .show .signs .of .fading .

Snip .the .blooms .from .the .plant .and .float .them .immediately .on .to .the .water .It .may .help .if .someone .holds .the .bowl .beneath .the .flower .stems .Alternatively .carry .the .flowers .on .a .broad .leaf .to .avoid .any .contact .with .the .hand .

If .the .sun .becomes .clouded .during .this .time .the .remedy .should .be .abandoned .Avoid .

letting .shadows .fall .across .the .bowl, .whether .your .own .or .

from .plants .and .grasses .When .they .have .given .up .their .healing .strength .the .

flowers .should .be .lifted .out .from .the .bowl .using .a .twig .of .the .plant .rather .than .fingers .

When .the .remedy .has .been .prepared .you .will .sense .the .

vitality .and .see .that .the .water .has .been .subtly .changed

Documents

Bach Flower Remedies – The Essence Within THE THIRTY ......8 Bach Flower Remedies – The Essence Within 9 Introduction It .is .an .important .part .of .the .function .of .this .book